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When Kevin Durant found out that he was given a 96 overall in the latest NBA 2K22 game, he commented that he deserved a 99 due to his all-round abilities. He currently shares the accolade of being the highest rated player on NBA 2K22 alongside LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Over the years, the NBA 2K series has implemented slight changes in their rating parameters. However, an overall of as high as 99 was common until the NBA 2K14 game. In recent years, LeBron has been the highest-rated overall player, with overalls of 97 and 98 also being given since the NBA 2K18 game.
In this article, we look at five players who could easily have received a rating higher than 96 in NBA 2K22:
NBA 2K22: 5 Players who deserve a rating of more than 96
Apart from LeBron and Kevin Durant, a range of other modern NBA players arguably did enough to warrant an overall of more than 96. This includes both Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two of the most gifted players the league has ever seen.
Regardless, the following five players probably deserved an overall of more than 96:
#5 Nikola Jokic – 95
First and foremost, Nikola Jokic won the 2021 MVP award after putting in career-best numbers in a variety of categories. He averaged more than 26 points per game with 10.8 rebounds and more than 8 assists and still finds himself with an overall of 95.
What is surprising is the fact that Nikola Jokic had the exact same overall of 95 in NBA 2K21 as well. Hence, his performances over the past year have not been reflected in his overall. Jokic will be itching for the season to start so that he can get his overall increased from the current 95.
#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo – 96
Giannis Antetokounmpo has sealed his legendary status with the Milwaukee Bucks after deciding to stay and lead them to their first championship in 51 years. He has staked his claim as the best interior scorer in the NBA and is also a lockdown defender who can guard the opposition’s best players.
In a nutshell, it appears to be his 3-point shooting that has resulted in an overall of just 96, as he had the same rating last year as well. Giannis easily deserved an upgrade of at least 97, and is another player who might see his NBA 2K22 overall upgraded as the season commences.
#3 Stephen Curry – 96
Even LeBron James thought that Stephen Curry deserved an overall of 99, which can at the end of the day be seen as a result of his magical shooting abilities itself. Curry is easily the best shooter the NBA has seen and came back to form last season after a difficult 2019-20 campaign.
Curry edged past Bradley Beal to win the NBA scoring title and has yet been given a 96 overall. The biggest issue is the fact that Stephen Curry had a rating of 97 last year, which means his performances have actually resulted in a downgrade overall!
#2 Kevin Durant – 96
Another player who can easily be argued to deserve a rating better than 96 is Kevin Durant. Durant has been to three Olympics and has three gold medals, and starred in Team USA’s fourth straight gold medal campaign in Tokyo this year.
He had a commanding season for the Nets and was unlucky to be left without the likes of Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the crucial semifinal series against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, his performances in the past year warranted an upgrade from the 96 overall from NBA 2K21, something that has not happened.
#1 LeBron James – 96
LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, period. He deserves to be the joint-highest rated player this year as well, and looks determined to return to winning ways alongside a certain Russell Westbrook next season.
His achievements, legacy, overall all-round skills and the fact that he is still going at more than 25 ppg at the age of 36 means that he deserved to keep his 97 rating from the NBA 2K21 game, especially in the scenario that others such as Durant and Curry get upgraded as well.
Regardless, LeBron should also be able to see an upgrade as the season progresses.
